The 5th Dementia

Various attempts at humor evoke the concept of dementia in presenting a concept as being foolhardy, delusional or merely ill-thought.

While on the outset this would seem to be an innocuous epithet, in reality Dementia is a very serious condition that strikes a wide cross-section of otherwise alert and sober people, and can be extremely humiliating for them.

Although I myself have endured brain-damage (or more correctly, Neuro-motor damage) as a result of Multiple Sclerosis, my cognitive functions have remained largely unaffected (with the exception of rare bouts of confusion that are distinctly disorienting.)

But people who experience Dementia have SERIOUS difficulties thinking, and should be treated with a lot of sensitivity...more than most people would think is necessary.

Again, I am only giving a voice to people who don't really have one in the public sphere--I see them struggling to "get out" whenever I must visit my own Neurologist.

To put things in perspective...imagine that some of the wisest people on the planet are treated as idiots because the very brain in their head is experiencing a kind of "mental hurricane", 24 hours a day.

It's like living in New Orleans during Katrina and NOT being able to escape.

Or worse.

I just try to remember that people go through all sorts of trials that result in odd behavior...this seems to be the loving thing to do.